Hand manipulated household cleaning appliance



Sept. 11, 1962 5. J. KUSHNER 3,052,910

HAND MANIPULATED HOUSEHOLD CLEANING APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 16, 1959 FIG.|

INVENTOR. 5/0 176- J Aus/mer 3,052,910 HAND MANIPULATED HOUSEHOLD CLEANING APPLIANCE Sidney J. Kushner, 3 Deb St, Piainview, N.Y. Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 869,001 11 Ciaims. (Cl. -531) The present invention relates to a household appliance, especially to a hand-manipulated appliance for performing household chores that require multiple operations, such as dishwashing or window-cleaning, or the like, and has for its general object the provision of such an appliance with which such multiple operations may be performed, without change of implement or the users hand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the character described having an integral construction, means for sup porting a plurality of different implements or devices Which may be selectively applied by the user to a surface for cleaning purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the character described having provision for the support and dispensing of a detergent or like cleaning or polishing liquid or powder for use in the cleaning operation in which the appliance is used.

It is still another object of the present invention to devise a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the character described which permits the user to selectively dispense cleaning or polishing material directly upon or adjacent to any one of the cleaning implements or devices supported thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the character described all of whose operations may be managed by the user with one hand, without the need for shifting from hand to hand or assistance from the other hand to effect any adjustments or changes.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an appliance of the character described whose cleaning devices are removably supported thereon and replaceable when worn or for substitution.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the character described which is of relatively simple construction, easy to manipulate and convenient to use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of a multiple-purpose cleaning appliance of the present invention, partly in section and illustrating three ditferent cleaning implements or devices associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the appliance of FIG. 1, shown fully assembled and partly broken away, to show details of construction and assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled appliance of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Generally stated, the appliance of the invention consists of a hollow tubular handle adapted to receive and hold a resiliently compressible-walled dispensing container for a readily-flowing cleaning or polishing agent, whose dis- 3,052,910 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 pensing nozzle extends above the top of the handle, and which is provided at its top with spaced, convergent supports for a plurality of different cleaning or polishing implements or devices at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle, for convenient application to a surface; the dispensing outlet of the container extending between said implement supports and capable of discharging its contents, upon compression of the container walls, at any selected point of a 360 angle within the space encompassed by the cleaning implement supports, either directly upon the surface to be treated or to any of the cleaning implements supported on the handle.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings; the same comprises a hollow handle, generally designated as 10, which may preferably be of generally cylindrical shape and may be formed of a resilient material, such as thin steel or a suitable synthetic plastic material. The handle 19 may comprise an upper portion 12, which may be fully tubular, and a split lower portion providing two or more tapering segments, 14-, preferably of greater length than the tubular handle portion 12, and preferably provided at their points of junction with circular, enlarged recesses, 16, to facilitate the flexing of the segments 14 toward one another.

The handle 10 may be provided at its tubular end with a preferably metallic reinforcing collar or ring, 20, on its exterior, which ring may be integral with or secured in any conventional manner to the handle portion 12. Secured to the handle 10, at the end of its tubular portion 12, preferably in regularly spaced relation to one another, are a plurality of means, such as wires 22, 24 and 26, for supporting a plurality of various cleaning implements thereon. Such supporting means or elements 22, 24 and 26, may comprise wires that are secured by one end to the handle portion 12 and extend radially outwardly therefrom along their lower portions and then converge upwardly to an apex, 28, where they may be joined for mutual support and rigidity of structure.

Each of the wires 22, 24 and 26 may carry means for supporting thereon, in preferably removable relation, 2. separate and individual cleaning implement or device. Thus, the wire 22 may carry a pair of vertically spaced, resilient clips, 3%, which are adapted to engage a brush, generally designated as 32, by its back 34, whose sides may be suitably fluted, as at 35, for engagement by the clips 39. The outer surface of the brush back may be grooved, as at 37, and it may be provided with spaced passages, 36, therethrough, for the passage of a cleaning material applied to the back 34 of the brush to the bristles, 38, thereof.

Another of the supports, as the wire 24, may similarly be provided with a pair of spaced resilient clips, 4t), for engaging the wiper, generally designated at 42, by its thickened and rounded back, 44.

The third of the wires, 26, may have secured thereto a wire grid, 46, to one end of which is hingedly secured the ring, 43, between which grid and ring may be removably held a sponge, 5%; the grid and ring being releasably interengageable by their other ends, in any desired manner, as by the hook, 52, formed on the ring 48 and engageable over the upper end of the wire 26'. If desired, the grid 46 may serve as part of the wire 26, Spanning two parts thereof, as shown.

Disposable within the handle 10 is a container 54, for a cleaning or polishing agent, as a detergent, which may be in powder or liquid form, indicated at 56. The container 54 is preferably in the form of a squeeze bottle, having resiliently compressible walls, and is formed with a threaded neck, 58, defined by a shoulder 59. The neck receives an internally threaded, preferable dome-shaped cap, 60, in the center of which is provi-ded an outlet opening, preferably in the form of a tapered nozzle, 62.

Any suitable means may be provided for removably securing the container-54 within the handle'lfi, with the; discharge nozzle 62 f its cap 60 extending above the handle into the space between the Wires 22, 24 and 26. One such means (not illustrated) may comprise thumb screws set into the ring 20 which may be turned'to engage against the sides of the container inserted into the handle 10, in a manner readily understood. Another means for securing the container in place, which is illustrated in the drawing, comprises a narrow, inwardly extending flange, 64, at the upper end of the tubular handle portion 12 and preferably integrally formed therewith, against the inner surface of which the container shoulder 59 may be disposed and held by the cap 60, whose edge overlaps and engages over the flange 64 when it is threaded on the container neck 58.

For use, the several cleaning implements, as the brush 32 and wiper 42, may be secured on their respective supports 22'and 24, by being snapped into the clips 30 and 40, respectively; and the sponge 50 engaged between the grid 46 and ring 48, which are interengaged by the hook 52. A container 54 of detergent or polishing material may then bedisposed within the handle and secured therein by its cap 69, as described; the nozzle 62 of the cap being disposed opposite and between the cleaning implements supported on the handle. The user, then, may, by grasping the handle 10, apply the material from the container, either directly to the surface to be treated or worked on, as a dish, window pane on the surface of a vehicle body, or the like, or directly to any selected one of the cleaning implements, as the brush 32 or sponge 50. The user may accomplish this by holding the appliance with the implements directed toward the object orsurface to be treated and squeezing upon the segments 14 of the handle or directly upon the Walls of the container 54, as desired, while turning the handle to direct the discharged material, as desired. The several implements mounted on the handle may then be used for their individual purposes in any desired succession.

This completes the description of the household cleaning or polishing appliance of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that such appliance may serve a multiplicity of purposes to perform multiple operations in selected succession, without any need for changing from one appliance or implement to another and without need, even for a pause for change of hands. It will also be apparent that the appliance of the present invention is of highly simplified construction and easy and convenient to use, with a resultantgreat saving of time, energy and space..-

7 It will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the appliance of the present inyention maybe made by any one skilled-in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set'forth, and Without the exercise-of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such variations and modifications-that may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

WhatIolaim-is: Y a

1. An appliance of the character described, comprising a hollow handle, open at both ends, said handle including a tubular portion and a second portion extending from one end of said tubular portion, said second portion comprising a plurality of spaced segments of resiliently flexible material, the other end of said tubular portion having a plurality of spaced, outwardly extending means converging over the open'end thereof, each said means adapted to support a cleaning implement,

4 and means at said end of said tubular portion for engaging and supporting a flexible-walled dispensing container with its outlet disposed between said supporting means.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said container supporting means comprises an inwardly directed flange on the edge of said tubular portion, said flange adapted to be engaged between a shoulder on the container and a cap having a discharge opening secured on said container.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said container supporting means comprises an inwardly directed flange on the edge of said tubular portion, said flange adapted to be engaged between the shoulder surrounding a neck on said container and a cap having a discharge opening securable on said container neck.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said segments are integral with said tubular portion.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said segments are integral with said tubular portion and taper outwardly.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said spaced, outwardly extending means, each comprises a wire secured to said other end of said tubular portion, each of said wires extending outwardly from said tubular portion and converging toward one another at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said handle and each having means secured thereto for removably engaging a cleaning implement.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein said wires are interengaged at their point of convergence.

8. A household appliance of the character described, comprising, in combination, a hollow handle open at both ends, said handle including a tubular portion, one end of said tubular portion having a plurality of spaced, outwardly extending elements converging toward one another over said end, each adapted to support a cleaning implement, a resilient-walled dispensing container having an outlet nozzle, and means at said end of said tubular handle portion for removably securing said container within said handle with said outlet nozzle thereof disposed outwardly thereof intermediate said supporting elements.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein said elements each comprises a Wire section secured by one end to said tubular handle portion,-said wires diverging from one another at their lower portions adjacent said tubular handle portion and converging toward one another at their other ends, each said wire section having means secured thereto for removably holding a cleaning implement.

' 10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein said Wire sections are secured to one another at their point of convergence. a

11. The appliance of claim 8, wherein said container is formed with an outlet neck surrounded by a shoulder and said outlet nozzle is formed in a cap engageable on said neck and wherein said means securing said container in said handle comprises a flange on the end of said tubular handle portion extending inwardly thereover and engageable between said shoulder and said cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,510 Bridwell ,May 5, 1896 1,006,993 Wike Oct. 24, 1911 1,093,114 Corbett Apr. 14, 1914 1,818,917 Wolf Aug. 11, 1931 2,070,420 Burns Feb. 9, 1937 2,828,500 Peacock Apr. 1, 1958 2,886,839 Leopoldi I May 19, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,008,373 France Feb. 20, 1952 

